In a recent press release, the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society announced that it has dedicated almost $19 million to fund 54 new MS research initiatives aimed at stopping the progress of the disease, restoring physical function in those experiencing it, and eradicating it entirely. These comprehensive new projects will investigate leads involving skin cells and gut bacteria, as well as exercise.
Researchers at Stanford University plan to use skin cells to generate repair cells that may help return “nerve-insulating myelin in MS,” and the Mayo Clinic intends to explore beneficial gut bacteria that could lead to an innovative therapeutic approach. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are set to conduct a wellness study to see if a home exercise program can help MS patients improve their strength and consequently reduce falls.